In this novella, the authors show Bouki's desperation and push factors contributing to his agreement with a sleek, sophisticated local criminal and people smuggler / trafficker known as 'Captain Katastwòf Natirèl.' Bouki was deep in debts because he wanted to maintain a lifestyle he could not afford on the meager catches of a fisherman. Caught and deported several times by U.S. Border and Coast Guard, Captain Katastwòf Natirèl (Captain Natural Catastrophe) was on a black list. Bouki thought he was smart enough to pull this trip on his own. He refused to be known as the butt of his brother's jokes, a simpleton, a fool. He did not want Malis, his intellectual brother, to know about the details of that trip. All the while, Malis never hesitated to put him down and make him realize that he needed his expertise, language skills, and critical thinking.

Charles J. Desmangles and Kevin Levin interweave elements of the Haitian culture in this remarkable Haitian Creole, Spanish, English novella. Things must have been really harsh in Haiti if these two famous characters of the Haitian folklore finally decide to leave the country on a perilous raft to cross illegally to the U.S. shores. When faced with an upcoming storm, Captain Katastwòf Natirèl led his crew to Santiago, Cuba to seek temporary refuge. He forced everybody to learn Spanish in order to pass for Cuban refugees. Will Booki, Malis and Captain Katastwòf Natirèl make it to the dry grounds of Florida?

This story is set against the backdrop of Haiti's devastated agriculture, political upheavals, insecurity, presence of UN troops or Minustah, series of natural disasters such as hurricanes and 2010 earthquake, barren lands and tree-less mountaintops causing widspread floodings, destroyed ecology, infrastructures and educational institutions with a local population that depends more and more on imported goods and used clothes euphemistically known as 'pèpè.'

In this novella, the authors also implicate and relate the complicity of the catholic church whose priest, Father Francois, refuses to use Haitian Creole and French in his mass in his dogged efforts to cater to a dwindling but rich and powerful group of Latin language enthusiasts, les Bourgeois Commercants Mulattres (native Haitians of Syrian, Lebanese and.. descent). He did not heed Professor Malis' advice to start leading mass in Creole just like the Voodoo priests and protestant churches do all over the country with great success. What's worse is that Father Francois never said a word or raisee his stubby pinky finger against the clandestine smuggling and chaperoning of Haitian children who took these rickety boats to get reunited with their parents in Miami. Sister Marie Lafontant made her money chaperoning children and paid the priest under the table without counting her generous tithes to the church.

Now you can find out whether Bouki shows any signs of intelligence here:

"Excerpt from "Bouki and Malis Turned Boat People.."

“They said that I am supposed to pass the shark test too,” Bouki said to Malis.

“What are you talking about?” Malis asked.

“I was told that it is a test developed by the American authorities to separate Cubans from Haitians. They say that sharks like Haitians’ blood and flesh. They eat Haitian migrants whose boats capsize in high seas between Haiti and Bahamas. “

“Come on, Bouki, think straight. Respect yourself. It looks like you are losing your consciousness, you are coming in and out of consciousness. It appears that the waves of the sea and the crossing made you lose your mind. Americans are not like that! Where can they find these sharks?”

“Malis, I am not crazy. You always think I am crazy!”

“Crazy people hold this kind of talk!”

“I am a fisherman, but I am afraid of sharks. Their teeth are like saws.”

“Hello Bouki, you are no longer on the ocean now. You are on firm U.S. soil!”

Spanish, English, and Haitain Creole&&&&&&&&&&&&&& Spanish, English and Haitian Creole

Professor Orosco and Malis continued to teach Spanish lessons. Malis had a lot of problems
teaching the illiterate group. They were supposed to memorize a lot of lessons. It was the only
way to teach them.

NouvelKreyolAnaliz

About Me

HelpHaitiQuake (HelpChileQuake, HelpJapanQuake, ChristChurchQuakeVolunteer) is formed by a group of concerned Haitian Americans and Haiti, Christ Church, New Zealand, Japan and Chile's Friends who want to give a hand to the rebuilding of Haiti and other quake countries such as Chile, New Zealand, Tokyo, Japan. Natural catastrophes, human conditions and disasters unite us all!

Bilingual Story Delivered in PDF: This children's story is written in English and Haitian Creole. Use Paypal to Purchase a copy now:

Review of the ebook
Pa Ponpe Sou Kabann nan! – Stop Jumping on the Bed! - No Salten en la Cama! is the story of six siblings: Lili, Lala, Lolo, Lila, Lola and Lele who could never stop jumping on their parents' bed until a series of mishaps and accidents started taking place. Manman Baba and Papa Bibi's kids were only afraid of the housemaid who often complained about having to clean up all these children's mess. One day, Manman Baba stayed home and found out how much headache her children can give to the sitter and maid. Find out what happened to the kids and why they finally decided to change and stop messing around so much.
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